This is an Italian version of Chinese Egg Drop Soup which uses chicken broth and beaten eggs. No cheese though. The Chinese don't have a lot of cheese as an ingredient in their cuisine. The Japanese have imported a lot of Western ingredients so they have more cheese in their dishes. I wonder if the lack of cheese and milk dishes is partly due to the high rates of lactose intolerance in Asians?

Lori, not sure about it. However, let me know what you think about this Roman soup once you try it.

I knew I had read about the reluctance of chinese people to consume ,cows products.Made some more research and here is what ,I came up with:Source of info-Wikipedia.We were both right.

MilkChinese in earlier dynasties evidently drank milk and ate dairy products, although not necessarily from cows, but perhaps koumiss (fermented mare's milk) or goat's milk. After the Tang dynasty there emerged a line dividing Asia into two groups, those who depend on milk products (India, Tibet, Central Asians) and those who reject those foods. Chinese depend on soy, as more efficient way of supporting density, and to differentiate themselves from border nomads. Most Chinese until recently have avoided milk, partly because pasturage for milk producers in a monsoon rice ecology is not economic, partly because milk products became negatively associated with horse riding, milk drinking nomadic tribes. There may even be a biological bias. A certain number of people in any ethnic group are lactose intolerant. In addition, human beings, like other mammals, after they are weaned, stop producing lactase enzymes (needed to digest milk) unless they drink milk. Lactose intolerance, then, is partly cultural, partly biological.[12]

But this non-dairy tradition has undergone some change as a result of changing perceptions and valuation of global influences. For example, it has been suggested that, in the early 20th century Shanghai, �Western food, and in particular identifiably nourishing items like milk, became a symbol of a neo-traditional Chinese notion of family.�[13]

I knew I had read about the reluctance of chinese people to consume ,cows products.Made some more research and here is what ,I came up with:Source of info-Wikipedia.We were both right.

MilkChinese in earlier dynasties evidently drank milk and ate dairy products, although not necessarily from cows, but perhaps koumiss (fermented mare's milk) or goat's milk. After the Tang dynasty there emerged a line dividing Asia into two groups, those who depend on milk products (India, Tibet, Central Asians) and those who reject those foods. Chinese depend on soy, as more efficient way of supporting density, and to differentiate themselves from border nomads. Most Chinese until recently have avoided milk, partly because pasturage for milk producers in a monsoon rice ecology is not economic, partly because milk products became negatively associated with horse riding, milk drinking nomadic tribes. There may even be a biological bias. A certain number of people in any ethnic group are lactose intolerant. In addition, human beings, like other mammals, after they are weaned, stop producing lactase enzymes (needed to digest milk) unless they drink milk. Lactose intolerance, then, is partly cultural, partly biological.[12]

But this non-dairy tradition has undergone some change as a result of changing perceptions and valuation of global influences. For example, it has been suggested that, in the early 20th century Shanghai, �Western food, and in particular identifiably nourishing items like milk, became a symbol of a neo-traditional Chinese notion of family.�[13]

loong

Loong,

I am sure we all feel better now that we have the true data on this. Have you had time to try my ROMAN EGG SOUP recipe my dear? It is very good

Next time, let's try to stay on track a bit more. I would like to remind you that this is after all the ITALIAN FOOD Forum.

LOL. Thank you very much for the interesting information, loong. I suppose if you'd like to continue discussing Chinese food, we could move this topic over to the Chinese Food forum!

Sorry for derailing your forum, Cinzia! And I have tried your soup and it is very rich and delicious and different from that either the Greek or Chinese form of egg drop soup. The Parmesan cheese is the difference!

I'm excited because it is a nourishing yet simple, quick, easy and *economical* soup to whip up in a flash. I can't wait to try it with beef broth instead of chicken. Maybe Connie, Sandwiches editor, can link to this soup recipe. It would go perfectly with some of her sandwich recipes.

LOL. Thank you very much for the interesting information, loong. I suppose if you'd like to continue discussing Chinese food, we could move this topic over to the Chinese Food forum!

Sorry for derailing your forum, Cinzia! And I have tried your soup and it is very rich and delicious and different from that either the Greek or Chinese form of egg drop soup. The Parmesan cheese is the difference!

I'm excited because it is a nourishing yet simple, quick, easy and *economical* soup to whip up in a flash. I can't wait to try it with beef broth instead of chicken. Maybe Connie, Sandwiches editor, can link to this soup recipe. It would go perfectly with some of her sandwich recipes.